Bristol Beaufighter MK1F

Reissue of a classic
The Bristol Beaufighter was one of the most successful and effective night fighters of World War 2. With the outbreak of the War the German Luftwaffe undertook intensified night raids on Britain. The RAF needed therefore to find an effective system of defence. The Beaufighter Mk IF, based on the Bristol Beaufort bomber but with more powerful engines, became available from the summer of 1940. Its speed, size and heavy armament combined with a highly secretive new surveillance radar made the Beaufighter a very effective night fighter. The first victim (a Ju88) was shot down on 19 November 1940. The enormous fire-power came from six machine guns in the wings and four 20mm cannon under the nose. The Japanese nicknamed the Beaufighter The Whispering Death because of its relatively quiet attack profile. More than 5,800 Beaufighter's were produced, including 364 for the Royal Australian Air Force.